Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina

by Optina Elders, George Schaefer (Translator)

Now in its second printing, this modest work is an anthology of spiritual advice given by various of the nineteenth-century teachers of Optina Monastery in central Russia, organized thematically under headings such as spiritual warfare, the love of neighbor, faith, the will of God, the education of children, the commandments of God, the path of salvation, etc. Each piece of advice varies in length from a single sentence to a full paragraph. Pithy, immediately accessible, and universally applicable, these counsels resemble the sayings of the ancient Desert Fathers. Appropriate both for prolonged study and for daily devotional reading.

Genres: Christianity, Theology, Spirituality

205 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something like a Russian Orthodox verba seniorum. Topics are odd and very specific at points, but overall good stuff.

[Dorotheos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and Inspiring

[Navel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The very wise and learned counsels of the Holy Optina Elders.

[Melissa Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is being read in our parish's Ladies Group. We have been plodding through it for months and it is a tiny book. Orthodox books tend to be like that. There is nothing 'fluffy' about them especially when they are written by monastics.
If you are a Christian longing to go deeper in your faith but you are just not sure how to go about it, I highly recommend you read this book.

[G Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

a constant companion